WILDFIRE DANGER ELEVATED, RECENT ONEIDA COUNTY FIRE SPARKED BY BURNING DEBRIS

At least eight wildland fires have been reported over the past week across Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade and Price Counties, as wildfire danger remains elevated despite recent rain.

One of those fires broke out late last week on EZ Drive in the Town of Pelican. Crews arrived to find about an acre already burned, with flames moving into nearby woods. Firefighters spent roughly three and a half hours at the scene. More than 2,000 feet of forestry hose was used as crews worked through thick brush and rough terrain to reach the fire.

A DNR heavy unit was brought in to plow a containment line around the front edge of the blaze while firefighters knocked the fire down.The fire ultimately scorched just over three acres. According to the DNR wildfire tracker, the cause was debris burning.